Liquid crystal displays

ABSTRACT

A custom made liquid crystal display is formed from a pre-manufactured liquid crystal display by removing an excess region. The driver card is cut along the line X-X and the excess TABs are disconnected from the conductive layer. Optionally, a narrow strip is removed from each of the polarizing substrates between the lines to expose their associated glass plates. A groove is then cut into the exposed surface of each of the glass plates. Each glass plate is then fractured along the base of its groove so that the excess region is detached from the operative region. The cut edges of the glass plates are then sealed by applying a bead of ultra-violet curing adhesive. The processes of removing an excess region by cutting the glass plates with a laser or by freezing the liquid crystal between the glass-plates and machining through the glass plates are also described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a liquid crystal display, to a method ofmanufacturing a liquid crystal display, and also to apparatus to aidmanufacture of a liquid crystal display.

Generally, displays for reproduction of information have historicallybeen of a cathode ray tube type construction. In an environment wherespace is limited traditional displays were typically manufactured to besquare, or square with rounded corners, in order to make the best use ofthe limited space available.

Liquid crystal displays are currently considered suitable substitutesfor applications previously requiring cathode ray tube technology. Thereplacement of cathode ray tubes can be either for new applications orfor the purpose of upgrading existing technology through retrofitdesign. When manufactured in large quantities, liquid crystal displaysare of modest cost compared with an equivalent cathode ray tube.

JP A 8146444 illustrates a typical method of manufacturing a prior artliquid crystal display. A display panel, which has been swollen byliquid crystal therein, is divided into two parts. The first part isarranged to receive liquid crystal and the second part is arranged toprovide an overspill compartment, such that when the panel is pressedand heated, the liquid crystal causing the panel to swell is allowed toenter the second part. The boarder between the first and attached secondpart is removed to leave only the first part to form a liquid crystaldisplay panel. This method of manufacturing can be used when producingpanels in large quantities.

However, when liquid crystal displays need to be custom made inrelatively low numbers to suit specific requirements, the cost per unitis very high due to expensive tooling and manufacturing charges.Furthermore, manufacturing yield rates are low, high pixel defect levelshave to be tolerated and there are substantial delivery delays.

It is an objective of the present invention to facilitate the productionof custom made liquid crystal displays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method ofmanufacturing a liquid crystal display having a liquid crystal sealedbetween first and second substantially parallely spaced transparentplates which form an operative area of the display, comprises removingan excess region of a pre-manufactured liquid crystal display by cuttingthe first and second plates to isolate the excess region of the firstand second plates and to expose cut edges along the operative areas ofthe first and second plates.

The terms “cutting” or “cut” as used throughout this document means theaction of separating an excess region from an operative region in anyway. For example, this may be achieved by grooving and then fracturing aplate, or cutting through a plate with a laser or machine tool.

The inventor has determined that, contrary to the present understandingof the nature of liquid crystal displays, the highly complex electronicand physical structure of such displays can be re-manufactured toprovide alternative shaped displays at a much reduced cost per unit,when compared with the cost of a custom made display, and withoutsubstantial damage to the display. Furthermore, standard sized displaysare readily available devices which may be found in personal computersand other products which use standard sized liquid crystal displays andare manufactured in very high volumes, and hence at low cost. A liquidcrystal display comprises a liquid crystal sealed between first andsecond parallely spaced transparent plates which form an operative areaof the display. In such a display there is a miniscule spacing betweenthe plates. The inventor has discovered that this spacing, when theplates are re-manufactured, exerts a capillary action on the liquidcrystal which retains the liquid crystal between the plates withoutappreciable loss or disruption of the liquid crystal.

By using a method in accordance with the invention, it is possible tostart with an inexpensive standard display and re-fashion it toparticular requirements, instead of designing and manufacturing a smallnumber of expensive custom displays or ordering such custom displaysfrom a specialist manufacturer with an added high premium.

The transparent plates are usually formed from glass or another suitabletransparent material. The method may include cutting the first andsecond plates at an oblique angle.

The method may also include removing the excess region of thepre-manufactured liquid crystal display by forming a first groove in thefirst plate of sufficient depth to isolate the excess region of thefirst plate, forming a second groove in the second plate of sufficientdepth to isolate the excess region of the second plate, the secondgroove being substantially aligned with the first groove, and fracturingthe first plate and second plate along their respective grooves.

The method may include forming the first and second groovessimultaneously and may also include fracturing the first and secondplates simultaneously along the first and second grooves.

The method may include fracturing the first plate along the first grooveprior to forming the second groove in the second plate and fracturingthe second plate along the second groove. The method, may furtherinclude fracturing each grooved plate by placing the other plate on aridge substantially corresponding with the groove and applying pressureto the excess region.

Preferably, the liquid crystal display is placed on an apparatuscomprising a fracturing platform having a first light polarizing layerto polarize radiation emitted from a radiation source and a second lightpolarizing layer located between a viewer's eye position and the liquidcrystal display, and the method may include viewing the propagation ofeach fracture along its groove as an area against a contrastingbackground through the second light polarizing layer.

Alternatively, the method may include removing the excess region of thepre-manufactured liquid crystal display by cutting the first and secondplates using a laser beam thereby isolating the excess region of thefirst and second plates and exposing the cut edges along the operativeareas of the first and second plates. The laser beam may cut entirelythrough both plates, and this may done from one side of the display. Useof a laser to cut the plates gives good control of the cutting processand is particularly suitable where more complex or roundedconfigurations are required. It is also envisaged that a laser beam canbe used to form grooves in each plate and then pressure applied to theexcess area to fracture each plate along the groove. In this mannercontamination of the liquid crystal is avoided since the plates may becleaned after grooves has been formed.

In a further alternative, the method may include removing the excessregion of the pre-manufactured liquid crystal display by freezing theliquid crystal between the first and second plates and machining throughthe first and second plates thereby isolating the excess region of thefirst and second plates and exposing the cut edges along the operativeareas of the first and second plates. It will be understood that theterm freezing includes any reduction in the viscosity of the liquidcrystal thereby inhibiting its egress from between the first and secondplates.

Although freezing is particularly applicable to this furtheralternative, it may also be used in other methods in accordance with theinvention, for example, when a laser beam is used or the plates arefractured following grooving. Accordingly, the method may includefreezing the liquid crystal between the first and second plates prior tocutting the first and second plates.

In the case where conductive layers are adhered to the first and secondplates and are electrically connected to driver connections, the methodmay also include cutting and removing any driver connection-associatedwith the excess region prior to cutting the first and second plates. Inthe case where a light polariser is adhered to at least one of theplates, the method may include cutting and removing a narrow strip ofthe light polariser in a region either side of where the cut edgeassociated with each plate is to be formed.

The method may also include removing air voids within the liquid crystalby applying pressure to at least one of the plates.

Preferably, the method may include sealing the exposed fractured edgesto retain the liquid crystal between the first and second plates. Themethod may include sealing the exposed cut edges using a laser beamarranged to melt the first and second plates together along the exposedcut edges. This is particularly convenient where a laser beam is used toremove the excess region.

Alternatively, the method may include removing an excess region from atleast two pre-manufactured liquid crystal displays to leave exposed cutedges, aligning and positioning the exposed cut edges of one of theliquid crystal displays with the corresponding exposed cut edges of anadjacent liquid crystal display, and laminating the liquid crystaldisplays to form a single display with increased operative area.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a liquid crystal displaycomprises a pre-manufactured liquid crystal display having a liquidcrystal sealed between first and second parallely spaced transparentplates and in which an excess region of the pre-manufactured liquidcrystal display has been removed by cutting both of its transparentplates along a common line. In this manner a modified liquid crystaldisplay is provided as a selected portion of a pre-manufactured liquidcrystal display.

The first and second plates may be cut at an oblique angle. The cutedges of the transparent plates may be resealed to retain the liquidcrystal. A laser beam may be used to melt the first and second platestogether.

A composite liquid crystal display preferably comprises at least two ofthese modified liquid crystal displays supported with their respectivecut edges aligned and abutting. The cut edges are preferably supportedin alignment by a transparent lamina adhered over their firsttransparent plates. The cut edges may additionally be supported inalignment by a second lamina adhered over their second transparentplates.

According to a third aspect of the present invention apparatus, to aidremoval of an excess region of a pre-manufactured liquid crystal displayhaving liquid crystal sealed between first and second parallel spacedtransparent plates which form an operative area of the display and inwhich a groove has been formed in one of the plates between the excessregion and an operative region of the liquid crystal display, comprisesa fracturing platform having a light polarising layer located betweentransparent first and second supporting surfaces, a radiation sourcelocated to emit radiation through the fracturing platform, a raisedregion arranged on an opposite surface of the fracturing platform towhich the light source is located, the raised region being arranged tocontact a plate of the liquid crystal display in a region substantiallycorresponding to the groove in the other plate, and a light polarisinglayer disposed between a viewer's eye position and a liquid crystaldisplay located on the fracturing platform. In this manner a viewerobserves the liquid crystal display as a dark area and when the viewerapplies pressure to the excess region any fracture in the grooved plateappears as a light area.

The operative area of the liquid crystal display may be clamped to thefracturing platform whilst leaving the excess region freedom ofmovement. The raised region may be a ridge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section through a conventional prior artliquid crystal display taken along the line 1-1 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pre-manufactured liquid crystal displayillustrated in FIG. 1, but showing the removal of an excess region alongits right-hand edge;

FIG. 3 is an underplan view of the liquid crystal display illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the removal of anexcess region along its right-hand lower corner;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a pre-manufactured liquid crystal display thathas been processed by removing a first excess region along itsright-hand edge and a second excess region along its bottom edge toprovide a decreased display area;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan views of pre-manufactured liquid crystal displayswhich have been processed to remove curved excess regions.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates sealing of cut edges formed in apre-manufactured liquid crystal display.

FIG. 9 illustrates the processing of four pre-manufactured liquidcrystal displays, each similar to that shown in FIG. 5, to provide anincreased display area, and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic side elevation of apparatus for aiding removalof an excess area of a pre-manufactured liquid crystal display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a typical liquid crystal display 10 comprises liquid crystal11 trapped between first and second parallely spaced transparent glassplates 12, 13 by an ultra-violet cured adhesive seal 14. Patterned lightpolarizing substrates 15, 16 are respectively adhered to the outersurfaces of the glass plates 12, 13. Very thin conductive layers 17, 18are respectively coated over the inner surfaces of the glass plates 12,13 and are used to generate an electric field between correspondingportions of the conductive layers 17, 18 to cause the liquid crystal 11in the field to rotate and block light from passing. No light can passthe rotated electric crystal within the electric field and a viewer willobserve a dark area corresponding to the shape of the electric field. Bycontrolling a plurality of such corresponding portions of the conductivelayers 17 and 18, the liquid crystal display 10 can be operated toconvey information to the viewer.

In a first embodiment, as will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the glassplate 13 and its associated conductive layer 18 are larger than theglass plate 12 so that they extend to the left towards a vertical drivercard 19, and upwards towards a horizontal driver card 20. A series ofribbon connectors or TABs 21 electrically interconnect the driver cards19 and 20 with the various portions of the conductive layers 17 and 18in well-known manner so that the driver cards 19, 20 will determinewhich portions of the conductive layers 17 and 18 are to be energized.

FIG. 3 shows the reverse side of the liquid crystal display 10, thereverse side of the vertical and horizontal TAB's 21, driver cards 19and 20, and the light polarizing substrate 16.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 the required width of the final liquid crystal display10 is indicated by a chained line 22 and is achieved by removing anexcess region 23 of the liquid crystal display 10 in the followingmanner. With reference to FIG. 2, one of the vertical driver cards 20 iscut, using any suitable cutting apparatus, along a broken line X-X whichis located just outside an operative region 24 of the liquid crystaldisplay 10 that is to be retained. The vertical driver card 20 may beheld in a support fixture, not shown, and a fine tooth saw may be usedto cut through the vertical driver card 20 along the line X-X. This cutmust be beyond any TAB 21 carrying connections to the operative region24 that are to be retained. Any rough edges can be filed to prevent anytrack cut from shorting.

The portion of the vertical driver card 20 for the excess region 23 isthen removed by disconnecting the corresponding TABs 21 using a suitablesolvent or heating process. In this manner the removed portion of thevertical driver card 20 and associated TABs 21 are not damaged and canbe retained for potential repair use.

Optionally, a narrow strip of the light polarizing substrate 15, definedby the chained line 22 and a parallely-spaced chained line 25 on theopposite side of the line X-X, is then removed using suitable cuttingapparatus which will not damage the exposed portion of the underlyingglass plate 12. For example, a scalpel can be used to cut along thelines 22, 25 so that the narrow strip of the light polarising substrate15 can be peeled off to expose the glass plate 12 which is then cleanedto remove all traces of the adhesive that was used to bond the strip ofthe light polarizing substrate 15 to the glass plate 12.

A groove is then formed in the glass plate 12 along the line X-X ofsufficient depth to promote the generation of a fracture along thelength of the groove when pressure is applied to the excess region 23.This groove can be formed using a scribe, a machine tool set to machinea controlled depth, or a diamond wheel cutter. It may also be possibleto use a laser beam operated to form a groove of controlled depth. Anapparatus used to aid removal of the excess region 23 is described belowwith reference to FIG. 7.

The liquid crystal display 10 is then reversed to expose its oppositesurface as shown in FIG. 3. Again, optionally a narrow strip of thepolarizing substrate 16 is removed from either side of the line X-X toexpose a region of the glass plate 13. The process of removing thenarrow strip of the substrate 16 is the same as that already describedfor the removal of the narrow strip of the substrate 15. The exposedportion of the glass plate 13 is then cleaned to remove all traces ofthe adhesive that was used to bond the strip of the light polarizingsubstrate 16 to the glass plate 13. A groove is then formed in the glassplate 13 along the line X-X of sufficient depth to promote thegeneration of a fracture along the length of the groove when pressure isapplied to the excess region 23. This can again be achieved by using theapparatus that is described below with reference to FIG. 7.

It will be understood that either a groove can be formed in glass plate12 and the glass plate then fractured along that groove prior to forminga corresponding groove in the other glass plate 13 or correspondinggrooves can be formed in both glass plates 12, 13 prior to formingfractures in each plate 12, 13.

By fracturing the glass plates 12 and 13 along the line X-X, the excessregion 23 of the liquid crystal display 10 can be removed to expose cutedges of the glass plates 12 and 13. The minuscule spacing between theglass plates 12 and 13 generates a capillary action which acts on theliquid crystal 11 and serves to retain the liquid crystal 11 between theglass plates 12 and 13 so that no appreciable loss or disruption of theliquid crystal 11 occurs.

The process of removing the excess region 22 can create minute voids inthe liquid crystal 11, particularly if the cut edges of the transparentplates 12 and 13 do not coincide. Provided the fractures form a cleanbreak, these voids rapidly disappear. Gentle pressure applied to theglass plates 12, 13 can also be used to eliminate some voids andmaneuver persistent voids to the cut edges and hence out of the liquidcrystal 11. Positioning the line X-X along which fractures are formedfurther away from the operative region 24 reduces the risk of voids orbubbles being formed.

Although the glass plates 12 and 13 could be cut right through along theline X-X, as described below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, there is anincreased chance of contaminating the liquid crystal 11 in the operativeregion with particles of glass and cutting fluid. By only partly cuttingthrough the glass plates 12 and 13, such contaminants can be positivelyexcluded from contact with the liquid crystal, and the glass plates 12and 13 can be cleaned before being fractured along the line X-X.

If desired, the grooves in the glass plates 12 and 13 can be formedsimultaneously by feeding the liquid crystal display between a pair ofdiamond wheel cutters, thereby also ensuring that the two grooves areparallely aligned. It will be understood that the grooves formed inglass plates 12, 13 and the cutting of the polarizing substrates 15, 16can be performed in a single action.

Irrespective of whether the grooves in the glass plates 12 and 13 areformed separately or at the same time, in this particular embodiment,the cut edges of the glass plates 12 and 13 are sealed by applying abead of ultra-violet curing liquid crystal display sealant adhesive, andthen curing with an ultra-violet light source. This process provides aliquid crystal display 10 having a reduced operative region 24 withoutthe need to commission the production of a custom display by amanufacturer.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the process described withreference to FIG. 2 to permit the liquid crystal display 10 to bechamfered, that is to have a corner removed. The same reference numeralshave been used as in FIGS. 2 and 4 to denote equivalent features andonly the points of difference are now described. The excess region 23 isremoved from the operative region 24 along a broken line Y-Y which isinclined to both of the card drivers 19 and 20. The removal process isexactly the same as described with reference to FIG. 2 except that thereis no need to cut the vertical card driver 20 or to remove any TAB 21.

FIG. 5 show how the liquid crystal display 10, produced as describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, can have its operative region 24 reducedstill further by removing a horizontal excess region 26 together withthe lower portion if the horizontal card driver 19 and associated TAB21.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a second embodiment of the process for removingan excess region from a pre-manufactured liquid crystal display. Thesame reference numerals have been used as those in FIGS. 2 to 5 todenote equivalent features.

The required shape of the final liquid crystal display 10 is indicatedby a solid line 22 and is achieved by removing an excess region 23 ofthe liquid crystal display 10 in the following manner.

With reference to FIG. 6, narrow strips of light polarizing substrate15, 16, defined by the solid line 22 and a parallely-spaced line 25 onthe opposite side of broken line C-C, are optionally removed from bothsides of the liquid crystal display 10 and the exposed areas cleaned, aspreviously described. A laser, not shown, is then used to cut throughglass plate 12 and glass plate 13 along line C-C. In this manner bothglass plates 12, 13 are cut at the same time and the excess region 23 ofthe liquid crystal display 10 can be removed to expose cut edges of theglass plates 12 and 13.

With reference to FIG. 7, a portion of the vertical driver card 20 forthe excess region 23 is cut and removed by disconnecting thecorresponding TAB's 21, as previously described. Narrow strips of lightpolarizing substrate 15, 16, define by the solid line 22 and aparallely-spaced line 25 on the opposite side of broken line S-S, areoptionally removed from both sides of the liquid crystal display 10 andthe exposed areas cleaned, as previously described. A laser, not shown,is then used to cut through glass plate 12 and glass plate 13 along lineS-S simultaneously, as previously described, to expose cut edges of theglass plates 12 and 13.

It will be understood that although FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate curvedlines C-C and S-S the process of cutting with a laser can equally beapplied to the straight line cuts shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 or other cutshapes not illustrated. Furthermore, the laser may be used to cutthrough the driver card and polarizing substrate.

The gap between the plates 12 and 13 is then sealed either by applying abead of ultra-violet curing sealant adhesive and curing underultra-violet light conditions, or applying a glass frit or using thelaser to weld the plates 12 and 13 together.

In FIG. 8, the glass plates 12 and 13 can be welded to one another byapplying a laser beam B in direction D along the cut edge therebymelting the glass plates 12, 13 and forming a seal between the plates 12and 13. To aid clarity of FIG. 8, the light polarizing substrates andthe conductive layers are not shown and the card drivers and associatedTAB's have also been omitted.

In a third embodiment of the process, not illustrated, the liquidcrystal within the liquid crystal display or a part thereof can befrozen or have its viscosity reduced using liquid nitrogen and bothplates can then be machined through in one action using, for example, adiamond wheel cutter. In this manner the risk of contamination of theliquid crystal is mitigated and the number of voids introduced into theliquid crystal is reduced.

Should a liquid crystal display be required with a larger operativeregion then, as shown in FIG. 9, four liquid crystal displays 10 can beprepared as described with reference to FIG. 5 and can have theirrespective operative regions 24 combined by aligning and abutting theirrespective cut edges 27 and 28, the four liquid crystal displays 10 thenbeing laminated to form a single display with increased operative area.Such lamination is preferably achieved by adhering transparent plates tothe entire front and back surfaces of the four operative regions 24using an optically clear ultra-violet cured adhesive.

The processes described above allow rectangular or square format liquidcrystal displays, with reduced or increased operative areas, to beproduced quickly and cheaply by reshaping standard commercialrectangular shaped displays which are currently produced in vastquantity at low unit cost and with high quality. Furthermore, since theshaping process is only limited by the positioning of the cards drivers19, 20 and the excess regions 23, 26 to be deactivated, the processcould also be used to produce liquid crystal-displays of other shapes,including chamfered corners as taught by FIG. 4, curved shapes taught byFIGS. 6 and 7 and also L-shaped and triangular-shaped formats.

The above process is effective for removing an excess region of apre-manufactured liquid crystal display in which the cards drivers arerelatively simple in format with only a few passive devices associatedwith each TAB. Where more complex circuitry exists and the card driverscannot simply be cut, the process described above can be limited to thetechnique for cutting the transparent plates, the driver cards thenbeing re-engineered or re-positioned using flexible circuit extensions.

The groove or final cut edge of each plate in a liquid crystal displaymay be arranged such that it forms an oblique angle. In this manner agreater surface area is presented for sealing or bonding to a secondliquid crystal display arranged to abut the first liquid crystal displaywhen forming a display having a greater operative area.

FIG. 10 illustrates apparatus 31 to aid removal of an excess area 23from a pre-manufactured liquid crystal display 10. As described above,the liquid crystal display 10 comprises liquid crystal 11 sealed betweenfirst and second parallely spaced glass plates 12, 13 which also definean operative region 24 that is to be retained. To aid clarity of FIG.10, the light polarizing substrates and the conductive layers are notshown, and the card drivers are also omitted. However, these wouldtypically be arranged as described above with reference to FIG. 1.

A groove 32 has been formed part-way through the glass plate 12 asdescribed above. The apparatus 31 comprises a fracturing platform 33having a light polarizing layer 34 located between transparent first andsecond supporting surfaces 35, 36. A radiation source 37, for instance alight source, is arranged to emit radiation through the fracturingplatform 33. A raised region, in the form of a ridge 38, is carried bythe first supporting surface 25 and is arranged to contact the lowerglass plate 13 of the liquid crystal display 10 along a line coincidingwith the groove 32 formed in the transparent plate 12.

The apparatus also comprises a light polarizing layer 39 disposedbetween an operator's eye position 40 and the liquid crystal display 10which is positively located on the fracturing platform 33.

In operation, the operator observes the liquid crystal display 10 as adark area since radiation from source 37 is polarized by the layer 34,polarised by the liquid crystal 11 and further polarized by the layer39. As the operator applies pressure to the excess region 23, the glassplate 12 will start to fracture along groove 32. As the fracture spreadsalong the groove 32, it will appear as a light area against the darkarea background of the liquid crystal display 10 since the thickness ofthe liquid crystal 11 is different in the regions where fracture hasoccurred than in those where it has not, varying the degrees oflighting. Radiation will therefore not be polarized by the liquidcrystal 11 along the fracture.

Once a fracture in the glass plate 12 has been achieved, a groovecorresponding to groove 32 is formed in the glass plate 13 as has beendescribed above. The liquid crystal display 10 is then turned over andrepositioned on the fracturing platform 33 with the glass plate 12contacting the raised edge 38 along either the line of the groove 32 orthe line of the corresponding groove in glass plate 13. Again pressureis applied by the operator to the excess region 23 so as to fracture theglass plate 13 along its corresponding groove. When both glass plates 12and 13 have been fractured along their respective grooves 32, the excessregion 23 is removed and the gap between the fractures sealed asdescribed above.

Alternatively, the liquid crystal display 10 can have grooves 32 on bothplates 12, 13 prior to fracturing as described above. As a furtheralternative, once a plate 12 or plates 12, 13 have had grooves 32applied, the liquid crystal display is placed on the raised edge 38 suchthat the excess region 23 contacts the raised edge 38 and a downwardpressure is applied to groove or grooves 32 to fracture the plate 12 orplates 12, 13.

1. A method of changing the physical shape of an electronic display,wherein the display comprises a front plate, a back plate, and a film onat least one of the front and back plates, the method comprising thesteps of: cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in atarget display portion and an excess display portion; removing at leasta portion of the film; and applying a first seal along an exposed edgeof the target display portion between the plates.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the film comprises a polarizer.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of removing at least a portion of the film comprises:scoring the film along the desired dimensions; and peeling off excessportions of the film before cutting the display.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the film comprises a film on each of the front and backplates, and wherein the removing step comprises removing at least aportion of the film on each of the front and back plates.
 5. A method ofchanging the physical shape of an electronic display, wherein thedisplay comprises a front plate, a back plate, and a perimeter sealspacing apart the plates, and wherein image-generating medium is sealedto an area between the plates and within the borders of the perimeterseal, the method comprising the steps of: cutting the display alongdesired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excessdisplay portion, thereby breaking the perimeter seal of the display; andapplying a first seal between the plates along an exposed edge of thetarget display portion, the first seal creating a barrier to prevent theimage-generating medium from escaping out of the area between theplates, the first seal comprising an adhesive having mechanicalproperties for preserving cell spacing between the front and backplates.
 6. A method of changing the physical shape of an electronicdisplay, wherein the display comprises a front plate, a back plate, anda perimeter seal spacing apart the plates, and wherein image-generatingmedium is contained in an area between the plates and within the bordersof the perimeter seal, the display further comprising electroniccircuits for operating the display, the method comprising the steps:cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a targetdisplay portion and an excess display portion, thereby cutting at leastsome of the electronic circuits; and applying a first seal between theplates along an exposed edge of the target display portion; wherein thetarget display portion retains the basic functionality of the display.7. The method of claim 6, further comprising modifying the electroniccircuits on the target display portion to retain the basic functionalityof the display.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electroniccircuits comprise internal electronics, and wherein the modifying stepcomprises reestablishing continuity of the internal electronics.
 9. Themethod of claim 6, wherein at least some of the electronic circuitsremain on the excess display portion after the cutting step.
 10. Amethod for changing the physical shape of an electronic display, whereinthe display comprises a front plate, a back plate, and a perimeter sealspacing apart the plates, and wherein image-generating medium is sealedin an area between the plates and within the borders of the perimeterseal, the method comprising the steps of: cutting the display alongdesired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excessdisplay portion, thereby breaking the perimeter seal of the display; andapplying a first seal along an exposed edge of the target displayportion, the first seal creating a barrier to prevent theimage-generating medium from escaping out of the area between theplates.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: scoring apolarizer attached to an upper surface of the front plate resulting in atarget polarizer portion and an excess polarizer portion; and removingthe excess polarizer portion from the display before performing thecutting step.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the display furthercomprises electronic circuits for operating the display, and wherein thecutting step comprises cutting at least some of the electronic circuits.13. The method of claim 10, further comprising modifying the electroniccircuits on the target display portion to retain the basic functionalityof the display.
 14. A method for changing the physical shape of anelectronic display, wherein the display comprises a front plate, a backplate, and a perimeter seal spacing apart the plates, and whereinimage-generating medium is sealed in an area between the plates andwithin the borders of the perimeter seal, the display further comprisingelectronic circuits for operating the display, the method comprising thesteps: cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in atarget display portion and an excess display portion, thereby cutting atleast some of the electronic circuits; and applying a first seal alongan exposed edge of the target display portion.
 15. The method of claim14, further comprising reestablishing electrical continuity for theelectronic circuits that are cut.
 16. The method of claim 15, whereinthe reestablishing electrical continuity step comprises attaching newCOGS, TABS, or VLSI circuits to the display.